Figure 1.--Short pants became very short in the 1960s, especially by the late-6os.. We are not sure what lind of shorts he boy here wears, but they do not seem to be boxers. By the 70s shorts were mostly worn during the summer as casual wear.

Knee pants and short pants were very popular in Germany durung the early 20th century. They we often, but not always worn with long stockings. It is difficult to destinguish between knee pants and short pants, because shorts were commonly worn at knee length. After World War I (1914-18) by the 1920s, short pants were almost universally worn by Germam boys into their teens. Even some older teens wore shorts, although after about age 15 years, boys began wearing knickers or long pants. Short pants were essentially the same length as knee pants, but gradually grew shorter. Short pants were most common during the inter-War period and post-War period. Many German boys wore short pants year round, swithing to long stockings in cold weather. Most boys during this period wore short pants until about 15 years of age, although this varied from family to family. Some older teens wore shorts as casual wear. Shorts were still very common after World War II in the early-1950s, in part because of economic conditions. At first we begin to see more long pants in the Winter, but gradually they became increasingly popular for boys. As in other European countries they began in the 1960s to be seen as casual summer wear We still see German boys wearing short pants in the 1960s, including when dressing up. They were, however, not nearly as common as in the 1950s. Shorter cut shorts became populr in the 1960s. And by the end of the decade we see more and more boys wearing long pants. By this time shorts were basically for summer casual wear and we see fewer boys wearing shorts to school. Long pants became the standard boys' wear during the 1970s. This was especially true when dressing up or during the winter. We still see shorts worn, but almost exclisively as casual wear during the summer. We see some of the same sporty styled shorts that were popular in the United States. We no longer see shorts worn much at school. Here the appearance of jeans had a major impact, especially among teenagers. Most teens stopped wearing shorts even in the summer. We sse long, baggy shorts appearing in the 1990s.

The 1900s

Knee pants and short pants were very popular in Germany durung the early 20th century. They we often, but not always worn with long stockings. It is difficult to destinguish between knee pants and short pants, because shorts were commonly worn at knee length.

The 1920s

After World War I (1914-18) by the 1920s, short pants were almost universally worn by Germam boys into their teens. Even some older teens wore shorts, although after about age 15 years, boys began wearing knickers or long pants. Short pants were essentially the same length as knee pants, but gradually grew shorter. Short pants were most common during the inter-War period and post-War period. They were worn with both long stockings and knee socks. Many German boys wore short pants year round, swithing to long stockings in cold weather. Most boys during this period wore short pants until about 15 years of age, although this varied from family to family. Some older teens wore shorts as casual wear. We see shorts mostly held up by suspenders. Some shorts were done as suspender or H-bar shorts. Butoon-on shorts were also worn, but were less common. Lederhosen were most regional wear, popular in Bavaria and other areas of southern Germany.

The 1930s

Short pants continued to be very common for boys in the 1930s. They were almost universally worn. Many boys wore them all year round. This included the Winter, but often with long stockings during the cold weather. Mothers often had aate in mind when they switched from knee socks to long stockings. They were worn for both dress and casual occassions. Almost all boys and younger teenagers had short pants rather than long pants suits. And school portraits show almost all the boys wearing shorts. Boys in the 1930s still did not tend to have large wardrobes. We dp not see many mothers buying casual clothes. Generally boys wore their older clothes as casual wear than rather than having aot of purpse bouhght play wear. Age was a factor as to when boys switched to knickers and long pants. This varied somewhat from family to family, but was about age 15 years. Often a boy's first long pants were a suit and he continued to wear shorts for casual wear or school for a time. Shorts tended to be very long in the early-1930s, but were commonly worn at shorter lengths by the end of the decade. Here we think the Hitler Youth program was a factor. We see some HJ boys wearing longish shorts in the early years (!933-34), but by 1936 we begin to see shorter cut, more trim fitting shorts. We are not at all sure how this came about. But the HJ organization must have submitted specifications to manufacturers. The black corduroy shorts became very common. I have never seem this subject addressed in the voluminous literature about the HJ. What ever the reason that was a clear trend toward shorter cut short pants during the decade. Shorts began to look like the more modern garments. We see fewer boys wearing suspenders. Suspebnder shorts and H-bar shorts were worn by younger boys, older boys increasing were wearing belts. Often we see boys with theur HJ belt buckles even when not wearing the uniform.

The 1940s

German boys continued to commonly wear short pants in the 1940s. School portraits show almost all of the pre-teen boys wearing shorts as well as most younger teens. We see more boys wearing knickers or even long pnts in cold weather. We think the Hitler Youth was a factor here as the winter uniform was ski-pnts like knickers. Germany was devestated by World War II, the economy virtually destroyed. As a result we see many teenagers wearing short psants. Many families did not have the money for children's clothes, thus boys in many cases wore what ever was available.

The 1950s

Shorts were still very common in Grmany after World War II in the early-1950s, in part because of economic conditions causing boys to wear clotheseven after growing out of them. As the German Economic Miracle began to take hold we see children wearing better clothes than in the dreaful conditions adter World War II. At first we begin to see more long pants in the Winter, but gradually they became increasingly popular for boys. By the end if the decade we see mixed coutdits at schools, boys wearing both short and long pants. We also begin to see boys wearing long pants suits when dressing up. As in other European countries, short pnts were beginning in the the 1950s to be seen as casual summer wear. The process was just beginning but wasnotable.

The 1960s

Styles of short pants and conventions for wearing them chnged dramatically for German boys during the 1960s. We still see German boys wearing short pants in the 1960s, including when dressing up. This was still the case to ome extent during the early-60s. Some boys even wore short pants suits, mostly youngr boys. A concomitant trend was boys were increasingly wearing casual clothes. Suits in generl were becoming less common. Dressy shorts were, however, not nearly as common as in the 1950s. Some boys still wore knee socks which were formerly so common. Long stockings were no longer worn by boys, at least in West Germany. Ankle socks were becoming increasingly popular, even standard. And by the end of the decade they were no longer very common. Shorter cut shorts became popular in the 1960s. Shorts wee cut high above the knee. Knee-length shorts were no longr seen to any extent. This was part of a European-wide continental style. We mo longer see suspender shirts to any extent. Boy wore belted shors. They were virtully universal, although shorts as the decade progressed become seen incr easigly as casual summer wear. We still see standard styles and not the athletic-styled shorts that began to appear in the1970s. We see more and more boys wearing long pants and by the end of the decade they were standard, especially during the winter. We see fewer boys wearing shorts to school in the early-60s and very few by the end if the decade.

The 1970s

Long pants became the standard German boys' wear during the 1970s. This was especially true when dressing up or during the winter. We no longer see German boys wearing short pants suits, except for the very youngest. Even primary schoolboys mostly wore long pants. And we no longer see boys wearing short pants during the cold winter weater. This seems to be true in both West and East Germany. We are not entirely sure how fashion trends were linked. West German magzines were not freely available in the East after the Wall went up (1961), but most East Germans, especially East Berliners, could view West German television. While boys We still see German boys wearing short pants, but almost exclisively as casual wear during the summer with a variety of 'T'-shirts. Many primary boys wore shorts during the summer and even some younger teens. Most teens wore jeans which became popular during the 60s. Here the appearance of jeans had a major impact, especially among teenagers. Most teens stopped wearing shorts even in the summer. We do not see as many of the sporty styled shorts that were popular in the United States. Most shorts were stadard short pants without athletic styling. Not do we note trunk-style boxers withot flies. Boys wre belts and we no longer see suspender shorts whivh were once common. Here Lederosen were an exception. We note straight hems. The shorts were commonly cut very short. Jean shorts were popuar, both those done in denim and other materuiaks. We no longer see shorts worn much at school, exceopt when the weather turns warm and even then we mostly see long pants. By the end ofthe decadecwe begin t see longer-ut shorts, a style tht first appeared in Frace. We also no longer see knee socks to ny extent. As shorts becae summer wear, we mostly see them being iorn with ankle socks, both colored socks ahd striped siocks. We no longer see boys wearing shorts with leaher shes, but begin to see mostly sneakers and sabdas.

The 1980s

The 1990s

We see long, baggy shorts appearing in the 1990s.

Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main country short pants page]
[Introduction] [Activities] [Biographies] [Chronology] [Clothing styles] [Countries]
[Bibliographies] [Contributions] [FAQs] [Glossaries] [Images] [Registration] [Tools]
[Boys' Clothing Home]

Created: 1:52 AM 1/4/2009
Last updated: 1:53 AM 1/20/2015